Extruder



' Oct. 19, 1943. c. FIELD EXTRUDER Filed April 14,

1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN OR Crosby Field BY 0 My M WV I A'lTORNEY Oct. 19, 1943.

c. FIELD- 2,332,211 EXTRUDER Filed April 14, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV Cros Oct. 19, 1943.

v C. FIELD EXTRUDER Filed April 14, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lNV ENTOR Crosby Field flaws I BY Oct. 19, 1943; c. FIELD EXTRUDER Filed April 14, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR I Crosby Field BY- I MIA W5? I of thin sheets which may Patented a. 19, 1943 Crosby Field,

Corporation, Delaware Brooklyn, N. 2.,

Brooklyn, N. Y.,

asslgnor to Flakice a corporation of Application April 14, 1939, Serial No. 267,948

14 Claims.

stresses and having appreciable mechanical strength.

It is well-known in the art that the manufacture of'ice or other frozen fluid in the form he subsequently broken up into fragments rather than in the form of large cakes may result in important operating advantages. Among these advantages might be mentioned decreased space required for refrigerating equipment, increased yield of frozen product per unit of refrigeration, decreased labor cost, and continuity and flexibility of production. Such fragments may be manufactured by any of various proposed methods, such as, for example, that disclosed in my Patent No. 2,005,734. However, for certain purposes be available in pieces somewhat larger than those produced by using the method disclosed in the above-mentioned patent. Thus, I have found that ice made in the form of a rod or cylinder of a length one or more times its diameter is particularly well-adapted for packing certain 'perishable foodstuffs, refrigerating car bunkers and the like. It is to be understood that. the crosssection of the rod need not be round, but may be of any convenient shape, such as square, oval, or the like. Many attempts have been made heretofore to compress or weld fragments of ice into small cakes or briquettes and in general such cakes or briquettes have been subject to one or more of the following disadvantages. In many cases they are relatively soft in consistency and when placed in a storage bin tend to stick together; in other cases the briquettes while relatively hard have been formed in such a manner that they contain internal stresses which cause them to shatter when subjected to a relatively slight shock; in still other cases, portions of the cake or briquette will be hard and other portions soft.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for converting such fragments into a solid bar or rod which is uniform and homogeneous throughout, and which is substantially free from undesirable internal stresses which would otherwise cause it to crack. The many objects and advantages of the present invention may best be appreciated by referring to the acit is desirable that ice companying drawings which illustrate one 'embodiment of the invention, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a general elevation view of a machine embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section on line 2-4 of Figure 4, showing the driving mechanism;

Figure 3 is a vertical section on line 3 -3 of Figure 4; r

Figure 4 is atop plan view of the machine;

Figure 5 is a side elevation view of an alternate construction of the plunger; and

Figure 6 is an end view of the plunger shown in Figure 5; and T Figure 7 is a detail view of the discharge end of the nozzle shown in Figure 3.

The apparatus shown comprises in general a suitably driven reciprocating plunger which forces the fragments into and through a nozzle to compress and weld them into a'solid bar or rod. Referring particularly to Figure 3, the fragments enter the apparatus at the top of the chute i, which is of rectangular cross-section, and pass downwardly into a plunger chamber 2 within the cylindrical barrel 3. The fragments may be fed to the chute l by any suitable feeding device (not shown). Within the plunger chamber 2 there is provided a plunger 4 which is preferably made of bronze or other rust-resisting material and which is caused to reciprocate by mechanism described in detail below. Periodically the plunger 4 moves forward (to the right, as shownin Figure 3) to force the fragments in plunger chamber 2 into the large end of a rigid converging nozzle 5 and at the same time to compress and weld the fragments into a solid mass.

As shown in the drawings, the tapered innersurface 5a of the nozzle 5 is made with a slight inward bulge. My experiments have indicated that when the tapered inner surface of the nozzle is straight, the rod of ice formed is subject to checking, that is, that internal shearing stresses are set up within the rod which may cause it to shatter along cross-sectional planes when subjected to a relatively slight shock, the precise shape and characteristics of the fracture being dependent to some extent upon the shape of the plunger used. This tendency towards "checking is largely obviated by making the inner surface of the nozzle convex.

The plunger 4 is provided with a head 6 which, as shown in the drawings, has a hemispherical leading surface to merging into a principal bearing surface 6b which is concave-conical in shape. The bearing, surface 6b in turn merges into a relatively short straight conical surface exthe supports 55 and 4. In the apparatus here illustrated the ratio of the radius of convex curvature of the inner surface 5a of the nozzle 5 to the radius of concave curvature of the bearing surface 61) is approximately 14 to 1. Whereas this ratio may be varied a relationship of this general order was shown by experiment to result in the production of a rod of ice which would not shatter undesirably when subjected to shocks normally encountered in use. I p

In the embodiment here shown, the head 8 is shaped in such a manner that the ice fragments fed through chute i are first forced outwardly against the inner surface of the barrel 3 and of the nozzle 5 as .the plunger advances. All portions of the concave-conical surface 6b form an angle of somewhat less than 45 degrees with the horizontal and hence the vertical or radial component of the force exerted on the ice fragments is greater than the horizontal or axial component- Thus the ice is subjected to a compressive stress which is greater than that necessary merely to force it through the nozzle. During the later stages of the forward movement of the plunger the horizontal component of the force exerted is increased by the action of the shoulder 7 and the mass of ice already compressed moves forward in the nozzle.

As the plunger 4' moves forward, air which en'- ters the plunger chamber 2 with the fragments passesout of the chamber 2 and back into the chute i through a tube 8. The extreme forward position of the plunger 4 is indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3, and as shown partially closed off when the plunger is in its extreme forward position. Thus, the tube 8 not only aids in removing air and any liquid carried in with the fragments but relieves the vacuum which would otherwise be created by the recession of the plunger 4.- 7

Referring to Figures 1 and 3, the barrel 3 is .mounted on the supports 50, 5|, and .52, which are in turn mounted on the base 53. The support 559 is a split ring comprising a lower half 50a and an upper half 50b, the two halves of the split ring being secured together by a pair of bolts 50c (best shown in Figure 4). The support Si is constructed in a similar manner and comprises a lower section em which is secured to an upper section bib by a pair of bolts 5Ic. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the barrel 3 is notched to re- I ceive the two halves of the split rings 50 and 5! to hold the barrel securely .ward axial movement.

Referring again to Figure 1, the chute l is secured to the barrel 3 by a semicircular band 54 which passes under the barrel and is secured by the bolts 55 to a pair of struts 55 attached to opposite sides of the chute. The support 52, like is a split ring comprising a lower section 52a and an upper section 5% secured together by the bolts 520. However, as shown in Figure 3, its construction is somewhat different. The lower section 52a of the support 52 is cut away to receive the shoulder to of a ring 9, which fits snugly around the end of the barrel 3. Above the barrel 3, the shoulder 9a engages a similar shoulder 52d of the section 52b, and is held in place thereby. Thus the two halves 52a and 52b of the support 52 prevent axial movement of the ring 9.

Aportion of the outer periphery of the ring b is threaded to receive a threaded collar it which bears against a shoulder E3 of the nozzle 5 to against, any tendency tothe tube 8 is only projection in the it emerges from the .and when the hold the nozzle firmly against the barrel 3. The collar I2 is provided with a shallow hole l2a into which aspanner wrench may be fitted to aid in loosening or tightening the collar.

The inner surface of the nozzle 5 at its lefthand and is recessed to provide a declivity l4 which serves to prevent the mass of ice within the nozzle from receding when the plunger 4 is withdrawn. During the forward stroke of the plunger ice is forced into the declivity to form a shape of an annular ring extending outwardly from the central mass of ice plunger recedes the projection bears against the vertical surface of the declivity l4 to hold the mass of ice in place.

The nozzle 5 at its discharge end is provided with an expansible plug or auxiliary nozzle i5. preferably made of rubber, which holds the fra ments back in the nozzle until they have been compressed into a solid mass. When a solid mass of ice has been formed within the nozzle, a rod of ice forces its way through the plug, expanding the interior channel of the plug to the diameter of the small end of the nozzle. Since it is made of relatively stiff rubber, the plug when expanded exerts an appreciable retarding influence on the movement of the rod of ice. It should be noted that the rubber plug throughout it entire length bears against the rod of ice.

cylindrical surface 50, and the shoulder 58 of the nozzle 5. The rubber nozzle I5 has molded therein a ring l5a which threadably receives a plurality of stud bolts l6 that pass through a corresponding series of holes bored in the shoulder 5c of the nozzle 5. The axes of the stud bolts coincide with elements of the cylindrical surface 50; that is, th bolts "5' intercept the cylindrical surface 50 and hence the bore through the shoulder 5e is extended to the surface 5?). The stud bolts 16 are cut away to receive a split ring l1, the depth of the cutout being such that the inner surface Ila of the ring i1 fits snugly against the cylindrical surface 50, and the position of the cutout being such that the ring I! fits snugly against the shoulder 5c of the nozzle 5. The split ring I1 is held in place by a clamping band l8 which passes around the outer periphery of the ring I7, and is secured by the bolt l8a. I5 is molded in such a manner as to form a flap I50 which fits over the shoulder 5e and a lip 5) of the nozzle 5. A clamping band I 9 passes around the outer periphery of the flap l5c and is secured by a bolt I911. The nozzle I 5 is provided with a piece of reinforcing fabricl 5b molded therein, which aids in preventing tearing of the rubber. v

the force tending to push the rubber nozzle i5 away from the rigid nozzle 5 is distributed throughout the cross-section of the rubber nozzle.

Referring now to Figure 1, the rod of ice as plug i5 is broken up into sections of the desired size. This is accomplished by causing the rod to bear against, the diagonal surface 2la of a breaker arm M which is mounted on the nozzle 5 by means ofa clamp ring 21b which passes around the nozzle 5 and is secured by the bolt -2lc. The diagonal surface 2la causes the rod to be forced downward- The large end of the rubber nozzle Thus the construction is such that .17 against a rigid fulcrum piece cured to the breaker and additional weblid'of the breaker arm 2! ticn of the fulcrum piece 22 with re breaker arm 2i may Mechanism for operatin the now be described. Referring to there is shown an electric nected by a suitable in of flywheels 28a and ends of a shaft 2i. is a pair of pinions 22. The

fulcrum 22c supported by the fulcrum piece 22 is sethe bolt 22b, bolt holes are provided in the so that the posispect to the The machine will operate on either dry or wet be adjusted to 'vary the I size of the sections broken ed.

elt

plunger a will Figures 1 and 4 motor 24 which is con- 25 withone of a pair 25b mounted on. oppositev Also mounted on shaft 21 the and 28b which cooperate with a pair of gears 29a and 29?? mounted on opposite ends of a new to Figure 2, the crankshaft so by the connecting rod 38 a cross-head Thus the motor 26 opera 32 to the rel 8.

a reciprocating motion Referring again to 38 and plunger 6 are interconne crankshaft 39.

Referring is connected nd ball and socket 33 within the bartes to produce of the cross-head 83.

Figure 3. the

er rod 3% in the following manner:

An extension in place by a llc at the opposite fits into a bore in the place by the set 34 passes through the wiper ring We held 35b and 350, which pass the barrel 8, and a felt into an annular cutout 35a. The mechanism left of the packing cross-head cted by the plung- Sda on one end of the rod 34 in the cross-head 33 and is held 3%. A similar extension plunger 6 and is held in gasket space in the to the right Md. The plunger rod nd 35 comprising wiper ring of the packing gland 35 is water-lubricatedand that to the gland is oil-lubricated. The

motion of the packing gland is to keep the oil and water from intermixing and insure adequate each side of the packing 3 the air lubrication of all the moving parts of the apagland 35 there are holes 311 and 31).

These air holes permit intake and discharge of air as the plunger and recede, and also allow any leaks past the plunger or cross Due to the fact top of the machine chamber at a cases if the uneven fled form of may he used.

head A! of the plunger I leading surface and Mo similar of the plunger with a plurality which, as the plunger mov mass of ice, cause the the plunger recedes it posite direction, but

From the above dose the present invention provides a nomical method and 4 and cross-he single point on the plunger, there is in some for the plunger 4, to

wear is excessive, plunger .shown in Figures and 6 Referring to Figures 5 40 has a hemispherical bearin surfaces lib 6a, 8b,- and c lib ls'provided of helical strips or vanes 42 es forward into the rotate. When Ho and to the surfaces 4. The surface the degree of not be the same and hence the net e the plunger will gradua- In thisway unsurface of the plunger and on that the barrel 8.

ad 33 advance lubricant which -head to drain,

that the chips are fed at the and pass into the the periphery of cases a tendency plunger wear unevenly. In such plun er to the modiand '6, the

will be rotated in the oprlption it apparatus for rotation will fiectof both is apparent that simple and ecoconverting practice, however,

.ness of the fragments fed to the machine fragments of which may be ice and a dense compact homogeneous mass is produced which is substantially free from undesirable internal stresses. The opacity or cloudiness of the rod is a function both of the cloudiand of the rate at which the machine is operated. If the machine is operated at moderate speeds the opaqueness of the rod will besomewhat less than the opaqueness of the fragments fed. In cloudiness of the rod is not considered objectionable so long as the mechanical strenfih of the rod is unimpaired.

Since many embodiments might be made of the presencinvention and many changes might be made in the embodiment here described, it is to be understood that the above description is to be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for converting fragments of frotruded to form a combination, a nozzle with a convex inner surface from which the said fragments are extruded as a solid bar, a concavo-conical plunger for forcing said fragments into the said nozzle to convert them into a solid mass and means for maintaining sufilcient force opposing said bar from said nozzle to ensure sufiicient force being built up in said nozzle to form said fragments into a solid mass. 7

2. Apparatus for converting fragments of an ice into a solid bar, which comprises, in combination, a rigid nozzle with a convex inner surface through which the said fragments are exsolid, bar, a concavo-conical plunger for forcing the fragments into the said rigid nozzle to convert them into a solid bar, and an expansible nozzle associated with said rigid nozzle and normally having a cross-sectional area less than the cross-sectional area of the discharge end of said rigid nozzle for frictionally exerting a retarding influence on the movement ofthe said bar after extrusion.

3. Apparatus for converting fragments of frozen liquid into a solid mass, which comprises, in combinatio iner surface, and curved outer surface, the radius of curvature of said plunger being less than the radius of ourvature of the inner surface of said nozzle.

4. Apparatus for converting fragments of frozen liquid into a. solid mass, which comprises, in combination, a converging nozzle through which said mass is extruded, means for forcing the fragments into the said nozzle to convert them into a solid mass, comprising a tapered plunger having a convex leading surface merging into a ooncavo-conical bearing surface.

5. Apparatus for converting fragments of frozen liquidinto a solid mass, which comprises, in combination, a nozzle through which said mass is extruded, water-lubricated means for intermittently forcing said fragments into said nozzle to convert them and means for preventing oil from said oil-lubricated means from intermixing with water from said water-lubricated means.

6. Apparatus for converting fragments of frozen liquid into a solid mass, which comprises, in combination, a rigid nozzle through which the said mass is extruded, arubber nozzle at the disthe ejection of I a converging nozzle having a curved I a tapered plunger having a" into a solid mass, oil-lubricated 4 means for operating said intermittent means,.

charge end of said rigid nozzle, and means for connecting said rubber nomle to said rigid nozzle including a plurality of stud bolts integral with said rubber nozzle passing through a portion of said rigid nozzle and held in place by a clamp ring.

7. Apparatus for converting fragments of frozen liquid into a solid bar, which comprises, in combination, a converging nozzle through which said bar is extruded, means for forcing said fragments into said nozzle to convert them into a solid mass, and a rubber nozzle associated with said rigid nozzle and having an interior bore normally smaller than the smallest diameter of said rigid nozzle.

8. Apparatus for converting fragments of an ice into a solid mass, which comprises, a converging nozzle through which said mass is extruded as a solid bar, a fulcrum over which said bar passes, a rigid breaker arm for forcing said bar against said fulcrum to break said bar into sections of predetermined uniform size, and means for adjusting the relationship between said fulcrum and said breaker arm to vary the size of the sections broken oil.

9. Apparatus for converting fragments of an ice into a solid bar, comprising, in combination, a plunger chamber for receiving said fragments, a nozzle operatively associated with said plunger chamber, a plunger for intermittently forcing said fragments from said plunger chamber into said nozzle to convert them into a solid mass, a feed chamber for feeding said fragments to said plunger chamber, and a tube connecting said plunger chamber and said feed chamber for removing air entering said plunger chamber with said fragments.

10. Apparatus for converting fragments of an ice into a solid mass comprising, in combination, a member having a tapered boretherethrough into which said fragments are forced, means for exerting a relatively large force on said fagments to force said fragments into and through said bore, said member and said force-exerting means acting to convert said fragments into a mass as the fragments pass through said bore, and yieldable resisting means engaging said mass after it leaves said bore and yieldable in response to force exerted by said mass for continuously exerting a relatively small force opposing the movement of said mass from said bore, whereby suflicient compressive force is brought to bear on said fragments within-said bore by said force-exerting means and said member to consolidate said fragments.

11. Apparatus for converting fragments of an ice into a solid bar, comprising, in combination, a rigid nozzle through which said fragments are extruded, a plunger having a tapered bearing surface for forcing said fragments into said nozzle to convert them into a mass, and a resilient nozzle normally having a diameter smaller than that of said rigid nozzle associated with said rigid nozzle for applying sufllcient force opposing the movement of said mass from said rigid nozzle to insure consolidation of said fragments within said rigid nozzle, said resilient nozzle being expanded by passage of said bar therethrough.

12. Apparatus for converting fragments of an ice into a solid mass, which comprises, in combination, a rigid tapered nozzle through which said mass is extruded, means for forcing the fragments into the said nozzle to convert them into a mass, and a rubber nozzle associated with said rigid nozzle and normally having a crosssectional area less than the cross-sectional area of the discharge end of said rigid nozzle for applying sufficient force opposing the movement of said mass from said rigid nozzle to insure the conversion of said fragments within said rigid nozzle into said solid mass.

13. Apparatus for converting fragments of an ice into a solid mass comprising, in combination, a rigid tapered nozzle through which said mass is extruded, a plunger chamber, a plunger having a tapered bearing surface for forcing said fragments against the walls of said plunger chamber and into said nozzle to convert them into a mass,

and yieldable resisting means engaging said mass after it leaves said nozzle for applying suflicient force opposing the movement of said mass from said nozzle to insure sufllcient compressive force being built up on. said fragments within said nozzle to consolidate said fragments.

14. Apparatus for converting fragments of an ice into a solid bar, comprising, in combination, a nozzle through which said bar is extruded, a plunger having a tapered bearing surface for forcing said fragments into said nozzle to convert them into a solid mass, and means for causing said plunger to rotate as it forces said fragments into said nozzle. I

CROSBY FIELD. 

